The IRU web-based application for processing TIR pre-declarations is now available free of charge at EU external borders to help international transport operators meet the EU requirements to send TIR information electronically in advance to any EU Customs office of departure/entry.

Geneva – Further to the launch of the IRU TIR electronic pre-declaration system, (IRU TIR-EPD) in both Latvia and Lithuania, it is now possible for all TIR Carnet holders to process their TIR data in advance and free-of-charge, via the internet, from 11 EU countries located along the eastern border (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia).

IRU Head of TIR Department, Marek Retelski, said, “This is a major achievement to further reinforce the computerisation and security of the TIR System worldwide, in the interest of the transport industry, customs authorities, trade and the end customer. Indeed, IRU TIR-EPD not only saves time and money but it provides customs authorities with a sound risk-management tool, as they receive all the necessary data far in advance of TIR operations.”

As a result of intensive technical cooperation between the IRU, its national Member associations Latvijas Auto and LINAVA, as well as competent authorities of Latvia and Lithuania, the IRU TIR-EPD was successfully launched in these two additional countries, which are not only important users of the TIR System but are also neighbouring Belarus and the Russian Federation, two major TIR Contracting Parties outside the EU.

“We can only congratulate the Latvian and Lithuanian customs for their role in this achievement and encourage other Contracting Parties within or outside of the EU to join the IRU TIR-EPD,” Marek Retelski added.

The IRU TIR-EPD application allows road transport companies to save considerable amounts of time and money at border-crossings by rapidly providing all TIR data, free-of charge through a user-friendly internet platform to the relevant customs office, thus avoiding the very expensive services of intermediaries at the border.

The IRU TIR-EPD also helps authorities implement the International Convention on the Harmonization of Frontier Controls of Goods, reducing border waiting times by removing the necessity to process customs clearance at border-crossing points.

The IRU is currently working closely with numerous other countries to implement the TIR-EPD, including Belarus, France, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.